Beauty In The '40's

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Cleansing For Detoxification

All of us can benefit from a detoxification cleansing program to help eliminate excessive toxins and foods from our bodies. Overload of these substances can contribute to congestion and stagnation in the body which often shows up as disease, especially degenerative disease. It also creates an acidic environment within the body’s cells which contributes too many symptoms of toxicity. The good news is the stagnation / congestion can be cleared from the body through cleansing and detoxification (fasting). To accomplish this, we need to support the body’s main organs of elimination.
The body has four doors of elimination; Liver, Colon, Kidneys, Skin and Lungs. We need to support these organs of elimination that will move the garbage out. If we detoxify without opening the doors of the body first, the result will be similar to trying to throw garbage out through a closed door. The important thing during detoxification is not to go faster than the organs of elimination can bear. That is why we need to support the organs as we detoxify. The liver helps transform many toxic substances into harmless agents, while the blood carries wastes to the kidneys; the liver also dumps wastes through the bile into the intestines, where much of the waste is eliminated. We also clear toxins through sweating from exercise and heat. Skin may also be accessory elimination organs whereby toxins can be released as with skin rashes.
Herbs Useful in Detoxification:
Blood Cleansers – Echinacea; Red Clover; Dandelion (Liver as well); Burdock; Yellow Dock; Oregon grape root
Laxatives – Cascara sagrada; Buckthorn; Dandelion; Yellow dock; Rhubarb root; Senna leaf; Licorice root
Diuretics –Parsley; Yarrow; Cleavers; Horsetail; Corn silk; Uva ursi; Juniper berries
Skin Cleansers / Diaphoretics –Burdock; Oregon grape root; Yellow dock; Goldenseal; Elder flowers; Peppermint; Cayenne pepper; Ginger root
The Liver IS the most important detoxification organ. The B vitamins along with Milk Thistle herb has been also shown to aid liver detoxification and repair. Several amino acids improve and support detoxification, particularly cysteine and methionine which contain sulfur. L-cysteine supplies sulfhydryl groups that help prevent oxidation and bind heavy metals such as mercury; vitamin C and Selenium aid in this process as well. Glutamine is another amino acid that is important in helping heal the gastrointestinal tract as well as reduce cravings for sugar and alcohol.
It’s important to note – as with any cleansing program, adding fiber also supports detoxification; it helps cleanse mucus along the small intestine and by creating bulk in the colon. This helps pull toxins from the gastrointestinal tract.
Remember, drinking pure filtered water should always be consumed during any type of detox program to help dilute and eliminate toxin accumulation; it is best to have water room temperature and away from meals as it can dilute the enzymes needed to properly break down foods for absorption. 🙂